X-ray table for patients



April L18, 1950 w. K. KEARSLEY 2,504,697

X-RAY TABLE FOR PATIENTS Filed sept. 13, 194e Inventor: Wil liam K.Kear"sley,

is Att orrey Patented pr. 18, 1950 X-RAY TABLE FOR PATIENTS William K. `Kearsley, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation 'of New York Application September 13, 1946, Serial No. 696,863

(Cl. 21S-19) 3 Claims.

The present invention comprises an improved radiographic planar support or table for patients during radiographic examination or therapeutic treatment.

Heretofore, the tops of such tables which commonly come into direct contact with a patients body have been found by the patient to be uncomfortably cold, particularly in winter. As the attention of the X-ray technician who is taking pictures or giving treatment is apt to be preoccupied with a variety of details, the result is that the patient, who may be in poor physical condition, is given an undesirable chill sensation when irst coming in direct contact with the supporting surface of the table.

Ordinary electric heating means such as used. for example, in electric blankets are not suitable for warming the cold surfaces as the shadows of heater elements can not be tolerated in radiographs. Radiant heaters are unduly complicated and expensive and their operation would be unduly distracting for the operator.

In accordance with one feature of my invention lthe patient-supporting surfaces i radiographic devices is provided with an electric heater element constituted of thin metal foil, preferably a light metal, such as aluminum which will not cast a radiographic shadow and hence will not spoil the desired radiographs. In accordance with another feature of my invention metal parts, such as metal reenforcements of the table top material are traversed and heated by conductors carrying the heating current for the main foil heater.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an X-ray table embodying my invention and Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken as indicated in Fig. 1 by the corresponding lines 2--2 and 3 3.

The patient-supporting table shown in Fig. 1 is of the type commonly used in hospitals. It comprises a metal framework Il which is supported on a base 2 by a curved rail 3. Appropriate apparatus (not concerned with the present invention) which is operated by the foot pedals Il, 5 permits the table to be adjusted in various planes. X-ray apparatus 6 is adjustably supported by a bracket 'l on a vertical standard 8.

Ordinarily the patient who is to be radiographed lies in a prone position on the radiographic table. The table m'ay be adjusted to assume a vertical or some intermediate position by adjusting the supporting mechanism a footboard I0 being provided as an end support to keep the patient in desired position. Radiographs are taken on X-ray sensitive films or plates supported bythe plateholder II.

The table top 9 may consist of any suitable supporting material. Conveniently it may con- `or fibrous composition sheets, such as plywood, or plastic-bonded cardboard, the edges of which are reenforced by metal channels I2, I3. Even though the table top and the channels I2, i3 assume room temperature in a hospital or physicians ofiice, they are below what may be called comfort temperature which is about 92 F. that is approximating skin temperature which will not be sensible as hot or cold.

In accordance with my invention, the multipleply table top includes a thin sheet III of metal, such as 0.9603 aluminum foil which as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is interleaved with the plywood, or other composite sheet material I5 constituting the supporting surface. As indicated in theA drawing the metal I4 which constitutes an electric heater is located closely adjacent the top surface oi the surface with which the patient comes into contact. Electric terminals I6 and I'I are provided at opposite ends of the heater. Electric conductors I8 and I9 which respectively are connected to the terminals I6, I1 serve tov warm the channels I`2 and I3, their resistance R being so chosen with respect to the current carried by these conductors the edge reenforcements t2 and i3 are warmed to a comfort temperature. As shown in the drawing the conductor I8 is led from the depending plate of the terminal I6 through the channel I2 to the right-hand or foot-end of the table and back. The conductor I5 is led from the terminal I1 through the channel I3 to the left-hand or head-end of the table. The conductors I8, I9 are connected to the low voltage secondary winding of a transformer 20. The primary winding of the transformer is connected by the conductors 2I, 22 to a conventional supply source (not shown) as for example: service lines carrying 110 volt alternating current. A number of taps 23 and a switch 24 are provided to so regulate the primary excitation that a current of about amperes at a potential of about two volts will be provided for Warming the conductors I8 and I9 and the sheet-form heater It to the temperature required for the comfort of the patient. In any event, the secondary voltage should be so low that no danger of electric shock to the patient exists if the terminals of the heater or the channel conductors should become grounded or short-circuited. Even if a wet skin surface should come into contact with a conductor charged to two volts no electric shock would be felt.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A radiographic table comprising the combination of a planar table top of laminated nonmetallic material, a thin metal foil substantially co-extensive with said support and being interposed between laminations of said table top and terminal means for conducting through said foil an electric current of suiciently high amperage to warm said table top to substantially skin temperature.

2. An apparatus for the examination of patients by means of X rays comprising a radiator of said X rays, a radiographic table, and a radiographic detector of said radiations, said radiographic table comprising the combination of a planar table top of laminated nonmetallic material, a thin metal foil substantially coextensive with said support and being interposed between laminations of said table top and terminal means for conducting through said foil an electric current of sufciently high amperage to warm said table top to substantially skin temperature.

3. In an apparatus for the radiographic examination of patients comprising a radiator of z- X rays, a support on which the patients are 1ocated and which is adapted to receive and transmit said X rays, and a radiographic detector, the improvement which comprises a thin continuous metal foil coextensive with said support and in heat conductive relation with said support, said foil being heated by the passage of an electric current through said foil, said foil being of uniform thickness to uniformly pass said X rays.

WILLIAM K. KEARSLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

